Seismicity vulnerability assessment of Garlat, Balakot-Pakistan using rapid visual screening
Seismicity vulnerability assessment of Garlat, Balakot-Pakistan using rapid visual screening
LAILA SHAHZAD*1, MUHAMMAD UMER HAYYAT1, NIDA SAJID1, FAIZA SHARIF1, ASMA MANSOOR1, MANAL SHAH1 & NABEEHA LODHI1
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted in the Garlat area of Balakot city to assess the infrastructural vulnerability to natural disasters and the related level of awareness among community. A household questionnaire based survey was used to determine awareness and resilience of the community. Another methodology named Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) was used to determine the factors that contribute to infrastructure vulnerability to natural disasters. Factors assessed through this methodology are vertical and plan irregularity, soft storey, soft hazards, multiple storeys and building codes. Questionnaire results show that 70% people are educated and 90% are aware of high risk of area to natural disasters. 71% respondents still suffer from psychological trauma. More than 60% respondents want to leave the area but are unable to do so because of lack of governmental support. More than 72% people have no reach to information on future disasters. Ninety percent buildings are being built without codes. Almost 50% buildings are reinforced cement concrete (R.C.C) and contribute to vulnerability. Other factors are vertical irregularity, plan irregularity, soft storey and falling hazards which are 60%, 50%, 50% and 58% respectively. The study concludes that more than half of the population in Garlat is vulnerable to natural disasters.
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